Northfield, Minnesota

Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Northfield, MN

Non-medical help at home in the days and weeks after surgery, a hospital stay or a fall, alongside any nursing or therapy a doctor orders. Post what you need in Northfield for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.

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Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Northfield, MN: the local picture

0.3 mi
to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Northfield)
6
Medicare-certified home health agencies list Northfield ZIP codes in their service area
27%
of residents 65+ report a disability (29% in Rice County)
3,353
residents 65 or older (16% of Northfield)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Northfield Hospital in Northfield, about 0.3 mi away in a straight line, followed by Allina Health Faribault Medical Center (12 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 6 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Northfield. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Northfield compared with Rice County and Minnesota

Census figureNorthfieldRice CountyMinnesota
Residents 65+ with a disability27%29%28%
Residents 65 or older16%17%17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone33%28%30%
Households with no vehicle4.3%5.6%6.7%
Residents 85 or older2.6%2.0%2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)5.6%7.1%8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$69,104$61,458—

Older residents in towns around Northfield

TownDistanceResidents 65+65+ with a disability
Elko New Market, MN11 mi2278.8%
Faribault, MN12 mi4,11337%
Lonsdale, MN13 mi48751%
Farmington, MN14 mi1,93233%
Cannon Falls, MN14 mi92243%
Lakeville, MN16 mi8,09925%

Hospitals near Northfield

Hospital with an emergency departmentTownDistanceCMS overall ratingPhone
Northfield HospitalNorthfield, MN0.3 mi4 of 5(507) 646-1004
Allina Health Faribault Medical CenterFaribault, MN12 mi3 of 5(507) 334-6451
Mayo Clinic Health System - Cannon FallsCannon Falls, MN15 minot rated(507) 263-6000
Mayo Clinic Health System New PragueNew Prague, MN21 mi2 of 5(952) 758-4431

Home health agencies serving Northfield

AgencyOfficeDistanceCMS quality starsServices listedPhone
Home Health Care IncGolden Valley, MN39 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(763) 417-8888
Allina Health Home HealthMinneapolis, MN34 mi3.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(612) 863-4478
Adara Home Health IncBuffalo, MN61 mi3 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(763) 682-3005
Jb Kummer Enterprises LLCFarmington, MN14 mi2 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides(651) 460-4201
Interim Healthcare Of The Twin CitiesRoseville, MN39 mi2 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(651) 917-3634
Rice County PhnsFaribault, MN12 minot ratednursing, physical therapy, home health aides(507) 332-6111

Straight-line miles from the center of Northfield. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a post-surgery caregiver can help with

  • Help getting in and out of bed, chairs and the shower
  • Meals, fluids and medication reminders
  • Rides to follow-up and therapy appointments
  • Help with home exercises the therapist set
Cost

What post-surgery care costs in Northfield

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $5,759 monthly median income of Northfield households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a post-surgery caregiver

Medicare covers home health care after surgery when a doctor orders it and the person is homebound: part-time skilled nursing and therapy from a Medicare-certified agency. It does not cover round-the-clock help, or personal care when that is the only care needed (Medicare.gov).

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for someone after this kind of surgery? Are you comfortable with transfers, walkers and shower chairs? Can you start on the discharge date and cover the first nights? More in our post-surgery care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Post-Surgery Care in Northfield: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Northfield?

Northfield Hospital in Northfield, about 0.3 mi in a straight line from the center of Northfield (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (507) 646-1004. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Northfield?

Medicare lists 6 certified agencies whose service area includes Northfield ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Home Health Care Inc (4 of 5), Allina Health Home Health (3.5 of 5), Adara Home Health Inc (3 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Northfield?

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $5,759 monthly median income of Northfield households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

How long do people usually need help after surgery?

It depends on the operation and the person. After a hip or knee replacement many people need daily help for a few weeks, and more at night in the first days. Ask the surgical team for an estimate and plan with some slack.

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.

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